The deadline to apply for your children to attend one of District 196's magnet schools or participate in the Kindergarten Plus program next year is 4 p.m. Jan. 20, according to a district news release.

Applications for both are available on the District 196 website (K-Plus here and magnet schoolshere), the district office or in elementary school offices.

Any district student who will be in elementary school during the 2012-13 school year is eligible to attend one of the district's three elementary magnet schools: Cedar Park Elementary Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) School in Apple Valley, Diamond Path Elementary School of International Studies in Apple Valley and Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science in Eagan.

Enrollment is determined by lottery after applications are turned in, the release says.

K-Plus is a fee-based kindergarten program that adds an additional half day to a child's regular half-day kindergarten program.

School choice information nights are scheduled for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 3 at Red Pine Elementary, and Jan. 5 at Echo Park Elementary.

School tours will be available by appointment at the district's 15 elementary schools the week of Jan. 9.

One-hour tours of the three magnet schools will be given at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Jan 10 and 11.

Parents will be notified the week of Feb. 6 about K-Plus and magnet school placements, the release says.